AN 4 The Book of the Fours – Catukkanipāta > AN 4.180 The Four Great References

Numbered Discourses 4.180 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 4.180

18. Intention – 18. Sañcetaniyavagga

AN 4.180 The Four Great References – Mahāpadesasutta

1.1

At one time the Buddha was staying near the city of Bhoga, at the Ānanda Tree-shrine.

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā bhoganagare viharati ānandacetiye.

1.2

There the Buddha addressed the bhikkhū,

Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:

1.3

“Bhikkhū!”

“bhikkhavo”ti.

1.4

“Venerable sir,” they replied.

“Bhadante”ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ.

1.5

The Buddha said this:

Bhagavā etadavoca:

1.6

“Bhikkhū, I will teach you the four great references.

“cattārome, bhikkhave, mahāpadese desessāmi,

1.7

Listen and pay close attention, I will speak.”

taṁ suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī”ti.

1.8

“Yes, sir,” they replied.

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ.

1.9

The Buddha said this:

Bhagavā etadavoca:

2.1

“Bhikkhū, what are the four great references?

“Katame, bhikkhave, cattāro mahāpadesā?

2.2

Take a bhikkhu who says:

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ vadeyya:

2.3

‘Reverend, I have heard and learned this in the presence of the Buddha:

‘sammukhā metaṁ, āvuso, bhagavato sutaṁ sammukhā paṭiggahitaṁ—

2.4

this is the teaching, this is the monastic law, this is the Teacher’s instruction.’

ayaṁ dhammo, ayaṁ vinayo, idaṁ satthusāsanan’ti.

2.5

You should neither approve nor dismiss that bhikkhu’s statement.

Tassa, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno bhāsitaṁ neva abhinanditabbaṁ nappaṭikkositabbaṁ.

2.6

Instead, you should carefully memorize those words and phrases, then check if they’re included in the discourses and found in the monastic law.

Anabhinanditvā appaṭikkositvā tāni padabyañjanāni sādhukaṁ uggahetvā sutte otāretabbāni, vinaye sandassetabbāni.

2.7

If they’re not included in the discourses and found in the monastic law, you should draw the conclusion:

Tāni ce sutte otāriyamānāni vinaye sandassiyamānāni na ceva sutte otaranti na vinaye sandissanti, niṭṭhamettha gantabbaṁ:

2.8

‘Clearly this is not the word of the Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha.

‘addhā idaṁ na ceva tassa bhagavato vacanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassa;

2.9

It has been incorrectly memorized by that bhikkhu.’

imassa ca bhikkhuno duggahitan’ti.

2.10

And so you should reject it.

Iti hetaṁ, bhikkhave, chaḍḍeyyātha.

3.1

Take another bhikkhu who says:

Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ vadeyya:

3.2

‘Reverend, I have heard and learned this in the presence of the Buddha:

‘sammukhā metaṁ, āvuso, bhagavato sutaṁ sammukhā paṭiggahitaṁ—

3.3

this is the teaching, this is the monastic law, this is the Teacher’s instruction.’

ayaṁ dhammo, ayaṁ vinayo, idaṁ satthusāsanan’ti.

3.4

You should neither approve nor dismiss that bhikkhu’s statement.

Tassa, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno bhāsitaṁ neva abhinanditabbaṁ nappaṭikkositabbaṁ.

3.5

Instead, you should carefully memorize those words and phrases, then check if they’re included in the discourses and found in the monastic law.

Anabhinanditvā appaṭikkositvā tāni padabyañjanāni sādhukaṁ uggahetvā sutte otāretabbāni, vinaye sandassetabbāni.

3.6

If they are included in the discourses and found in the monastic law, you should draw the conclusion:

Tāni ce sutte otāriyamānāni vinaye sandassiyamānāni sutte ceva otaranti vinaye ca sandissanti, niṭṭhamettha gantabbaṁ:

3.7

‘Clearly this is the word of the Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha.

‘addhā idaṁ tassa bhagavato vacanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassa;

3.8

It has been correctly memorized by that bhikkhu.’

imassa ca bhikkhuno suggahitan’ti.

3.9

You should remember it. This is the first great reference.

Idaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭhamaṁ mahāpadesaṁ dhāreyyātha.

4.1

Take another bhikkhu who says:

Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ vadeyya:

4.2

‘In such-and-such monastery lives a Saṅgha with seniors and leaders.

‘asukasmiṁ nāma āvāse saṅgho viharati sathero sapāmokkho.

4.3

I’ve heard and learned this in the presence of that Saṅgha:

Tassa me saṅghassa sammukhā sutaṁ sammukhā paṭiggahitaṁ—

4.4

this is the teaching, this is the monastic law, this is the Teacher’s instruction.’

ayaṁ dhammo, ayaṁ vinayo, idaṁ satthusāsanan’ti.

4.5

You should neither approve nor dismiss that bhikkhu’s statement.

Tassa, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno bhāsitaṁ neva abhinanditabbaṁ nappaṭikkositabbaṁ.

4.6

Instead, you should carefully memorize those words and phrases, then check if they’re included in the discourses or found in the monastic law.

Anabhinanditvā appaṭikkositvā tāni padabyañjanāni sādhukaṁ uggahetvā sutte otāretabbāni, vinaye sandassetabbāni.

4.7

If they’re not included in the discourses or found in the monastic law, you should draw the conclusion:

Tāni ce sutte otāriyamānāni vinaye sandassiyamānāni na ceva sutte otaranti na vinaye sandissanti, niṭṭhamettha gantabbaṁ:

4.8

‘Clearly this is not the word of the Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha.

‘addhā idaṁ na ceva tassa bhagavato vacanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassa;

4.9

It has been incorrectly memorized by that Saṅgha.’

tassa ca saṅghassa duggahitan’ti.

4.10

And so you should reject it.

Iti hetaṁ, bhikkhave, chaḍḍeyyātha.

5.1

Take another bhikkhu who says:

Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ vadeyya:

5.2

‘In such-and-such monastery lives a Saṅgha with seniors and leaders.

‘asukasmiṁ nāma āvāse saṅgho viharati sathero sapāmokkho.

5.3

I’ve heard and learned this in the presence of that Saṅgha:

Tassa me saṅghassa sammukhā sutaṁ sammukhā paṭiggahitaṁ—

5.4

this is the teaching, this is the monastic law, this is the Teacher’s instruction.’

ayaṁ dhammo, ayaṁ vinayo, idaṁ satthusāsanan’ti.

5.5

You should neither approve nor dismiss that bhikkhu’s statement.

Tassa, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno bhāsitaṁ neva abhinanditabbaṁ nappaṭikkositabbaṁ.

5.6

Instead, you should carefully memorize those words and phrases, then check if they’re included in the discourses or found in the monastic law.

Anabhinanditvā appaṭikkositvā tāni padabyañjanāni sādhukaṁ uggahetvā sutte otāretabbāni, vinaye sandassetabbāni.

5.7

If they are included in the discourses and found in the monastic law, you should draw the conclusion:

Tāni ce sutte otāriyamānāni, vinaye sandassiyamānāni sutte ceva otaranti vinaye ca sandissanti, niṭṭhamettha gantabbaṁ:

5.8

‘Clearly this is the word of the Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha.

‘addhā idaṁ tassa bhagavato vacanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassa;

5.9

It has been correctly memorized by that Saṅgha.’

tassa ca saṅghassa suggahitan’ti.

5.10

You should remember it. This is the second great reference.

Idaṁ, bhikkhave, dutiyaṁ mahāpadesaṁ dhāreyyātha.

6.1

Take another bhikkhu who says:

Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ vadeyya:

6.2

‘In such-and-such monastery there are several senior bhikkhū who are very learned, knowledgeable in the scriptures, who remember the teachings, the monastic law, and the outlines.

‘asukasmiṁ nāma āvāse sambahulā therā bhikkhū viharanti bahussutā āgatāgamā dhammadharā vinayadharā mātikādharā.

6.3

I’ve heard and learned this in the presence of those senior bhikkhū:

Tesaṁ me therānaṁ sammukhā sutaṁ sammukhā paṭiggahitaṁ—

6.4

this is the teaching, this is the monastic law, this is the Teacher’s instruction.’

ayaṁ dhammo, ayaṁ vinayo, idaṁ satthusāsanan’ti.

6.5

You should neither approve nor dismiss that bhikkhu’s statement.

Tassa, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno bhāsitaṁ neva abhinanditabbaṁ nappaṭikkositabbaṁ.

6.6

Instead, you should carefully memorize those words and phrases, then check if they’re included in the discourses or found in the monastic law.

Anabhinanditvā appaṭikkositvā tāni padabyañjanāni sādhukaṁ uggahetvā sutte otāretabbāni, vinaye sandassetabbāni.

6.7

If they’re not included in the discourses or found in the monastic law, you should draw the conclusion:

Tāni ce sutte otāriyamānāni vinaye sandassiyamānāni na ceva sutte otaranti na vinaye sandissanti, niṭṭhamettha gantabbaṁ:

6.8

‘Clearly this is not the word of the Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha.

‘addhā idaṁ na ceva tassa bhagavato vacanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassa;

6.9

It has been incorrectly memorized by those senior bhikkhū.’

tesañca therānaṁ duggahitan’ti.

6.10

And so you should reject it.

Iti hetaṁ, bhikkhave, chaḍḍeyyātha.

7.1

Take another bhikkhu who says:

Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ vadeyya:

7.2

‘In such-and-such monastery there are several senior bhikkhū who are very learned, knowledgeable in the scriptures, who remember the teachings, the monastic law, and the outlines.

‘asukasmiṁ nāma āvāse sambahulā therā bhikkhū viharanti bahussutā āgatāgamā dhammadharā vinayadharā mātikādharā.

7.3

I’ve heard and learned this in the presence of those senior bhikkhū:

Tesaṁ me therānaṁ sammukhā sutaṁ sammukhā paṭiggahitaṁ—

7.4

this is the teaching, this is the monastic law, this is the Teacher’s instruction.’

ayaṁ dhammo, ayaṁ vinayo, idaṁ satthusāsanan’ti.

7.5

You should neither approve nor dismiss that bhikkhu’s statement.

Tassa, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno bhāsitaṁ neva abhinanditabbaṁ nappaṭikkositabbaṁ.

7.6

Instead, you should carefully memorize those words and phrases, then check if they’re included in the discourses and found in the monastic law.

Anabhinanditvā appaṭikkositvā tāni padabyañjanāni sādhukaṁ uggahetvā sutte otāretabbāni, vinaye sandassetabbāni.

7.7

If they are included in the discourses and found in the monastic law, you should draw the conclusion:

Tāni ce sutte otāriyamānāni vinaye sandassiyamānāni sutte ceva otaranti vinaye ca sandissanti, niṭṭhamettha gantabbaṁ:

7.8

‘Clearly this is the word of the Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha.

‘addhā idaṁ tassa bhagavato vacanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassa;

7.9

It has been correctly memorized by those senior bhikkhū.’

tesañca therānaṁ suggahitan’ti.

7.10

You should remember it. This is the third great reference.

Idaṁ, bhikkhave, tatiyaṁ mahāpadesaṁ dhāreyyātha.

8.1

Take another bhikkhu who says:

Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ vadeyya:

8.2

‘In such-and-such monastery there is a single senior bhikkhu who is very learned and knowledgeable in the scriptures, who has memorized the teachings, the monastic law, and the outlines.

‘asukasmiṁ nāma āvāse eko thero bhikkhu viharati bahussuto āgatāgamo dhammadharo vinayadharo mātikādharo.

8.3

I’ve heard and learned this in the presence of that senior bhikkhu:

Tassa me therassa sammukhā sutaṁ sammukhā paṭiggahitaṁ—

8.4

this is the teaching, this is the monastic law, this is the Teacher’s instruction.’

ayaṁ dhammo, ayaṁ vinayo, idaṁ satthusāsanan’ti.

8.5

You should neither approve nor dismiss that bhikkhu’s statement.

Tassa, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno bhāsitaṁ neva abhinanditabbaṁ nappaṭikkositabbaṁ.

8.6

Instead, you should carefully memorize those words and phrases, then check if they’re included in the discourses and found in the monastic law.

Anabhinanditvā appaṭikkositvā tāni padabyañjanāni sādhukaṁ uggahetvā sutte otāretabbāni, vinaye sandassetabbāni.

8.7

If they’re not included in the discourses or found in the monastic law, you should draw the conclusion:

Tāni ce sutte otāriyamānāni vinaye sandassiyamānāni na ceva sutte otaranti na vinaye sandissanti, niṭṭhamettha gantabbaṁ:

8.8

‘Clearly this is not the word of the Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha.

‘addhā idaṁ na ceva tassa bhagavato vacanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassa;

8.9

It has been incorrectly memorized by that senior bhikkhu.’

tassa ca therassa duggahitan’ti.

8.10

And so you should reject it.

Iti hetaṁ, bhikkhave, chaḍḍeyyātha.

9.1

Take another bhikkhu who says:

Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ vadeyya:

9.2

‘In such-and-such monastery there is a single senior bhikkhu who is very learned and knowledgeable in the scriptures, who has memorized the teachings, the monastic law, and the outlines.

‘asukasmiṁ nāma āvāse eko thero bhikkhu viharati bahussuto āgatāgamo dhammadharo vinayadharo mātikādharo.

9.3

I’ve heard and learned this in the presence of that senior bhikkhu:

Tassa me therassa sammukhā sutaṁ sammukhā paṭiggahitaṁ—

9.4

this is the teaching, this is the monastic law, this is the Teacher’s instruction.’

ayaṁ dhammo, ayaṁ vinayo, idaṁ satthusāsanan’ti.

9.5

You should neither approve nor dismiss that bhikkhu’s statement.

Tassa, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno bhāsitaṁ neva abhinanditabbaṁ nappaṭikkositabbaṁ.

9.6

Instead, you should carefully memorize those words and phrases, then check if they’re included in the discourses and found in the monastic law.

Anabhinanditvā appaṭikkositvā tāni padabyañjanāni sādhukaṁ uggahetvā sutte otāretabbāni, vinaye sandassetabbāni.

9.7

If they are included in the discourses and found in the monastic law, you should draw the conclusion:

Tāni ce sutte otāriyamānāni vinaye sandassiyamānāni sutte ceva otaranti vinaye ca sandissanti, niṭṭhamettha gantabbaṁ:

9.8

‘Clearly this is the word of the Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha.

‘addhā idaṁ tassa bhagavato vacanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassa;

9.9

It has been correctly memorized by that senior bhikkhu.’

tassa ca therassa suggahitan’ti.

9.10

You should remember it. This is the fourth great reference.

Idaṁ, bhikkhave, catutthaṁ mahāpadesaṁ dhāreyyātha.

9.11

These are the four great references.”

Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro mahāpadesā”ti.

9.12

Dasamaṁ.

9.13

Sañcetaniyavaggo tatiyo.

10.0

Tassuddānaṁ

10.1

Cetanā vibhatti koṭṭhiko,

10.2

Ānando upavāṇapañcamaṁ;

10.3

Āyācana rāhula jambālī,

10.4

Nibbānaṁ mahāpadesenāti.